Regulators push offshore firms on safety

Updated 8:32 pm, Friday, December 21, 2012

WASHINGTON — Federal offshore drilling regulators are seeking to prod oil and gas companies to adopt a “safety culture” following lethal accidents in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said in a “policy statement” this week that it would monitor safety culture as it polices companies and contractors working offshore. And with seven questions, the agency invited oil and gas companies to weigh in on the approach.

“The (bureau) defines safety culture as the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment,” the agency said.

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The move comes as the bureau draws scrutiny for not conducting audits of newly mandated safety programs and weeks after a fatal fire on a production platform in the Gulf.

Federal officials still are investigating what caused the explosion on Nov. 16 at a platform owned by Houston-based Black Elk Energy. The company has briefed congressional staff and federal investigators on the incident and is conducting an internal probe.

Bureau director James Watson said the new policy statement “is at the core of (the agency's) guiding principle of safety at all levels at all times.”

“From the boardroom to the control room, this policy pushes us all to a safer offshore environment,” he said in a statement.

The bureau highlighted nine key points of a robust safety culture, including careful planning of work activities, a pervasive sense of personal accountability and clear demonstrations that leaders are committed to safety in decisions and actions.